Mechanical break-up actuator for fluid dispensers



J. FRANGOS Oct. 22, 1968 MECHANICAL BREAK-UP ACTUATOR FOR FLUID DISPENSERS Filed Sept. 1, 1966 INVENTOR JZH/v Fpmv os BY M 97241;

United States Patefitf) a 3,406,913 j I MECHANICAL BREAK-UP ACTUATOR FOR FLUID DISPENSERS 1 John Frangos, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to Revlon, Inc.,

New York, N.Y., a gorporation of Delaware I Filed Sept. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 576,656.

4 Claims. (Cl. 239-543) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Actuator for dispensing: fluid from an aerosol container in a plurality of skew (non-parallel, nonduter -secting) streams.

The present invention relates to actuators for dis pensing fluids from a container package holding the'same, including pressurized and pump-type containers. In particular, the invention relates to actuators producing a mechanical break-up of the fluid stream being dispensed.

Numerous, nozzle or spray-head devices are known in the prior art for producing aerosols, i.e. finely divided liquid or solid particles suspended in a gas, commonly air. Devices exist in the prior art for effecting solid-liquid or liquid-liquid mixing in those cases where solids are to be dispensed using a liquefied gaseous propellant, or where two or more liquids separately stored in a container package are to be mixed and/ or mechanically subdivided at the time they are dispensed in the form of an aerosol. In these prior art devices, mixing and/or subdivision is commonly efiected within the nozzle actuator device by passing the material to be ejected as an aerosol through tortuous passages or by impinging it on baflle plates, for example. Prior art devices of this type, particularly when employed to dispense finely divided powders as an aerosol, are subjected to the serious disadvantage that the passages, baffles, mixing chambers, etc. within the actuator easily become clogged with the solids to be dispensed. The very same steps taken in the prior art to mix and/or subdivide the materials being dispensed render the prior art actuators vulnerable to misfunctioning.

According to the present invention, an actuator, nozzle device, or spray head suitable for use on pressurized and pump-type containers for dispensing fluids, including fluidized solids, in the form of an aerosol is disclosed in which mixing of a plurality of fluid streams is effected externally to the actuator device. The novel actuator eliminates the need for internally complex dispensing devices, thus facilitating the manufacture of the actuator, and-by elimination of the tortuous passages or baflle plates common in the prior artrenders the actuator of the invention more reliable and less subject to clogging and other malfunction.

The objects of the present invention are accomplished by the use of an actuator having a plurality of skew orifices through which fluid streams are ejected in a fashion such that the cross-sections of the streams are tangential at a point exterior to the actuator. By fluid stream as employed in the specification and claims is to be understood a gaseous or liquid stream, or a mixed stream of gases and liquids, in which solid particles may also be suspended.

A better understanding of the present invention and of its many advantages will be had by referring to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an actuator according to the invention in which the configuration of the interior cavity and the position of the orifices have been indicated by broken lines;

the

3,406,913 Patented qct. 22, 1968 "Ice FIG. 2 is a side elevation, in section, taken along lines 22 of FIG. -1; Y

. FIG. 3. is a rear elevation,in section, takenalong lines 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing-interior portionsof that part;of actuator in which the exit orifices arev located; and

vFIG. .4 is a bottom view of-the actuator taken along lines 44 of FIG}. M q

The figures show actuator 11, such .as of-plastic,'-aflixed to valve stem '12 of -a conventional pressurized or. pumptype container for dispensing a fluid stream in .the form of an aerosol.- -Actuator- 11 comprises internal cavity. 13, respectively in communication .with first; exit orifice; 14 and second exit orifice 15 through. first passage 16 ,and first interior orifice 17 and second passage 18 and second interior orifice 19. Actuator 11, suitablyjformed by molding or the like, is provided with shoulders 20 which limit the penetration of valve stem 12 into the actuator.

Passages 16 and 18 are so positioned within actuator 11 that their axes are skew lines, i.e. non-parallel nonintersecting lines. Passages 16 and 18 are further so positioned that the fluid streams, generally conical in crosssection, respectively emanating from first and second exit orifices 14 and 15 meet substantially tangentially at a point exterior to actuator 11.

The point at which the cross-sections of these two streams will be substantially tangential is dependent on the orientation of skew passages 16 and 18 to each other, on the diameter of the passages andof exit orifices 14 and 15, and also is dependent to some extent on the nature of the fluid being ejected and the conditions of pressure and temperature under whichit is ejected. Each of these factors will have some influence on the size, shape, and orientation of the generally conical crosssection of the gas stream emanating from each exit orifice of the actuator. However, it is not critical to the present invention that the point of substantial-,tangency be at any specific critical distance from the actiiator head, providing that the point of substantial tangency is between actuator 11 and the point of applicationat which the fluid streams being ejectedare directed.

At the point of tangency or substantial tangency of the ejected fluid streams, the streams interact by a process which may be characterized as mutual entrainment or collision so that a strong swirling action is imparted to the streams. The resulting turbulence effects the breakup of particles or agglomerates of liquids or solids which may be present in the gas stream and promotes fine dispersion of the smaller liquid or solid particles which result.

When used with pump-type containers for dispensing fluids, the two fluid streams emanating from exit orifices 14 and 15 of an actuator according to the invention impinge tangentially as described, bringing about subdivision of the fluid within the streams into fine liquid par ticles forming a mist in the surrounding atmosphere. However, the actuators of the present invention are particularly useful for dispensing solid powders in aerosol form. The extreme simplicity and smooth line of cavity 13 discourage caking or entrapment of solid particles within the cavity, as is common in actuators having interior bafile plates. Passages 16 and 1-8 of the novel actuator shown in the drawings and the respective interior and exit orifices of each are not tortuous, and can be made of a diameter suflicient to pass small solid agglommerates which may be present. The swirling action caused by mutual entrainment or collision of the propelling gas streams carrying the powders aids in the break-up of any agglommerates therein and in dispersion of the finely divided solid as an aerosol.

What is claimed is:

1. An actuator for a container package for dispensing a fluid in aerosol form, said actuator comprising a housing having a plurality of openings therein, said openings being formed with non-parallel, non-intersecting axes so as to discharge a plurality of fluid streams meeting substantially tangentially exterior to said housing.

2. An actuator as in claim 1 having two such openings.

3. An actuator for dispensing a fluid in aerosol form, said actuator comprising a housing having an interior cavity, a passage in communication with said cavity for receiving fluid to be dispensed, and a plurality of passages in said housing, each passage being defined at a first end thereof by discharge orifice and being entrant on said cavity at a second end thereof, the axes of said passages 15 being non-parallel, non-intersecting and mutually oriented to discharge fluid streams meeting substantially tangentially exterior to said housing.

4. An actuator as in claim 3 having two such passages.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Birkenmaier et a1. 239-298 X Paasche 239-298 Jenny 239-406 Joyce 239497 X Hesky 239-497 X Homm 239306 X Green ZZZ-402.1 X Glessner 239544 X Green 239-579 X France.

M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

J. P. MULLINS, Assistant Examiner. 

